What kind of problems do you get with 'knee cartilages'?

Meniscal tear

The meniscus may be torn in an injury, usually a twisting injury. There may be severe pain at the time. Maybe some swelling due to bleeding inside the joint. May progress to a feeling of instability and joint line tenderness.

Meniscal avulsion

The ends of the meniscus may be ripped up from their attachment to the underlying tibia bone.

Meniscal degeneration

The meniscus wears out, becoming friable at its edges and less effective as a shock absorber.

Displaced tear with locking

A specific type of tear of the meniscus, where the fragment flips over and locks the joint. This is the common cause of a knee which cannot fully straighten after and injury.

Word of the Day

Hemicallotasis is a procedure where the bone (usually upper tibia) is cut through half its width and then the two parts are slowly distracted (pulled apart) using a special apparatus called an external fixator.